Education

The Singapore education system had a reputation, especially among Singaporeans, of being over-emphatic on academic achievements.

You may be surprised at how much the system has evolved over the past 10 years.

Singapore’s Education System Today

The Singapore education system has evolved radically over the years. Its most distinctive difference compared to a decade ago is its diversity. Today, Singapore education offers more breadth and depth than ever, with pathways for excellence not just academically but in sports, the arts and IT. Specialised institutions have been established to recognise and nurture these talents, such as the Singapore Sports School, the School of the Arts, the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music and the most recent addition, the School of Science and Technology.

The curriculum is also more broad-based, with a premium placed on innovation and entrepreneurship, to allow for more all-rounded development. Ultimately, the new generation of Singaporeans emerging from the education system is equipped with relevant life skills to thrive in a competitive global environment.

Some things about the education system have remained constant, however. These include the world-class standards of Singapore’s government schools. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report 2009/2010, Singapore was ranked 1st internationally for the quality of our educational system. Singapore was also rated as one of the world’s best performing education systems, with an excellent teaching force, according to the McKinsey & Company 2007 report, How the World's Best-Performing School Systems Come Out on Top.

Our students have regularly emerged tops in international competitions such as debating and creative writing competitions, as well as mathematics and science Olympiads. In the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2007, Singapore students were ranked first at Primary 4 and Secondary 2 levels for Science. In Mathematics, Singapore students emerged second at Primary 4 and third at Secondary 2. Singapore schools were found to have excellent resources and facilities, well suited for Mathematics and Science instruction. Our schools also provide a safe and conducive environment for learning.

The signature bilingual policy of Singapore’s education policy has also remained consistent. In addition to learning English as first language, students study their mother tongue – usually Chinese, Malay or Tamil – at school to help them to maintain their cultural heritage. However, the way the second language is being taught in schools has grown in sophistication. Recognising that learning the mother tongue may be a challenge for students who do not use the language at home, the focus is on grooming an understanding and love for the language through innovative approaches. Differentiated paths to learning the second language, especially Chinese, have also been introduced to ensure that lessons are pitched at levels according to the aptitude and ability of students.

Returning from Overseas

If your child was studying at a school and applied for Leave of Absence before you went overseas, your child can simply be readmitted to the school upon his/her return.

If your child has been away for an extended period of time, you may wish to sign him/her up for an Immersion Programme for a period of time when he/she is back in Singapore. This will help ease him/her into the education system. After all, you’ll want to minimise any culture shock!

Applying for Schools

If your child is due for Primary 1, you may register him/her during the annual Primary 1 Registration Exercise even if you are still abroad.

If your child is not on Leave of Absence and you have a preference for a specific school, you may approach the school directly to seek admission. Each school has its own admission criteria.

You may also apply to the Ministry of Education (MOE) for assistance in school placement or choose

to participate in special school placement exercises run by MOE, including:

• School Placement Exercise for Returning Singaporeans (SPERS) – for entry into Secondary 1, 2 or 3 as well as Pre-University 1
• Direct School Admission (DSA) – for entry into Secondary 1or Pre-University 1 at selected schools

If you are concerned about your child being able to cope with the second-language requirement, don’t worry. Students who have been away from Singapore for an extended period of time, or who enter the public schools mid-stream, may apply for exemption from studying their official Mother Tongue language. They may instead apply to study a non-official language such as French, German or Japanese in place of the Mother Tongue language.

You may read more about this on the MOE website.

For more information on re-introducing returning Singaporean children into the local education system, please visit the MOE website.